Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-06
THE CAREER OF GIBSON.
Romantic Adventures Of king Kala.
kaua's Late Prime Minister.


kana's Late Prime Minister.
Prom Columbia Is c. Letter.
An interesting sketch OF the romantic and check.
cred career OF walter NJ. Gibson, King Kalakaua,s
deposed prime minister, comes from Anderson s.
c., where ne spent many years OF his early life
The facts In this story have been gathered from
several old citizens of Anderson who knew Gibson
as boy nearly fifty years ago, and with whom be
roved the hills OF the Blue Ridge in pursuit Of game
that has long since disappeared to the deeper fist
nesses OF the great mountains beyond.
About 1899 Mr.. william Van Wyck, q wealthy
planter Of Anderson County, was married to Miss
Maverick, and the young couple started to New
York on a bridal trip. In New York Mr.. var
wyck advertised for a driver to take his coach
back to South Carolina, and among the applicants
who came In answer to the advertisement was
young walter NJ. Gibson, then a mere boy, but
already had he gathered enough experience and
knowledge OF the world to form the basis Tor re-
spectacle dime novel, OF gfbSOns life previous
to tbs time nothing definite was known, but It
was said that he was of foreign birth, and that
he had already been IN prison In Greece, but had
escaped by the aid OF the keepers daughters, AID
that he had returned to New York, for he had
previously spent some time there.
Gibson saw the advertisement OF Mr.. Van Wyck,
and being out Of funds, and also to crafty his
rowing, romantic spirit, he applied and was ac-
cepted. Gibson drove the horses from New York
to Norfolk, Va, where his employer, who had come
by different route Joined him with his wife, ana
was driven from Norfolk to Pendleton, s. G. While
OF conversations in French and German until Git-
son told them that Ii they wished him not to IN
derstand them they must use some other Language.
This led to inquiry, and MIR. Van Wyck discovered
that his boy cOachman was scholar. and though
a coachman, he was treated as one. white ser.
want was somewhat unusual In the South at that
time, and Mr.. Van Wyck's driver excited good
deal OF attention, especially as he always had q
book with him and would spend his time reading
while those he drove were visiting. That Gibson
was strongly attached to his employer and his
family IL seen In the reyered way he speaks Of
them in book written after his escape from the
Dutch In Sumatra. In this book, written in the
prison OF Welterredep. he makes the following re-
marks on bis bOyhood in South Carolina:
"The region OF country in which dwelt, the up
land border OF the State is chosen spot OF nature
TO foster the ardor OF young thoughts OF novel and
lofty enterprise. There are no groupings OF earth
and woods and streams that offer wilder and richer
pictures than can be seen along the winnings OF
the Keowee, so deeply frfnged with borders OF
laurel and muscadine, on the Wild Wolf Greek,
from the mighty beetlfng crags OF Table Rock, In
the sweet valley OF JaCOSSee, on Horseshoe Chauga,
famed in kennedyS romance, and then beyond
TugalOo In the Currahee-in the Tich beauty or
the leaping liquid silver OF Tallula and Toccoa,
and In this region OF wild and lovely wales and
frOwning peaks and shining streams, in this Swift
zerland OF America, lay the scenes of my early
dreaming"
Gibson remained in Anderson County for about
ten years. and during that time he taught In the
family OF his employer for about three years. He
afterw ard married a daughter OF Mr. Jessie Lewis
OF the Sandy Spring neighborhood. He SPEAKS
very fondly OF his love for this fair, gentle girl,
his marriage he taught school both in Anderson
and Pendleton, but teaching was not much to his
taste. He longed for adventure and spent much
OF his time wandering over bills searching Tor the
silver mines OF the Indians. He found some silver,
but not great deal
After his wife died he ran boat for short
while on the savannah River. His wife bore him
three children, two sons and a daughter, and died
about lS4S, and now lies buried in the old Lewis
family burylng ground near the old homestead.
Gibson always Visits his wife's grave when he
returns TO America.
There was some difference OF opinion regarding
the character OF the man, though the great major
ity OF people thought very highly OF INN. He left
South Carolina in 1850, leaving his children here
What he did for the next few years Is uncertain,
as he In his books tells one tale, and many others
are told elsewhere. At all events he followed his
tnclinatiOnS and became free-trader In his little
vessel which was originally intended for one OF
the ships In the Missionary Centrallan Navy.
1t was at this time that he was captured by the
Dutch on Sumatra, and imprisoned in Weterreden.
His escape from the prison was in itself romance
He was almost wOrsnipped by the natives. T..ere
was u woman who did great deal TO assist him
in his escape. The plot was laid and u vessel
ready. He had been furnished with womanS
dress, and. shaving OF his beard and changing his
costume, he managed to pass the guards and eS-
cape. This was in 1853.
He returned Immediately to Anderson, but re-
manned only about six months, During this visit
the citizens OF Pendleton held meeting and ex-
pressed their sympathy With him. and passed resO-
lutions asking co., j. l. orr, just elected TO Con-
gresS, TO take the matter In hand and recover
damages from the Dutch. The matter was after
wards dropped 1aAlng MS children Win nlIn ne
set out for Salt Lake city. He remained there
several years, and was there during the civil war
From Salt Lake he went 70 the Sandwich Islands,
and his history from that time Is Well known TO
the newspaper reader.
Mr.. Gibson has been back once to his old home
since he became prime minister. That was about
1877, and he delivered a Lecture In the Masonic
Hall which nearly Induced all the young men TO
go out there TO raise sheep, but the next day he
blasted his own hopes by letting II out that there
was leprosy there. SO he did not carry on any OF
the boys. Mr.. Gibson has many warm friends and
sympathizers in Anderson County, and he is con-
nected by marriage with many or its best people.
He has sister who is now keeping a candy store
on Broadway, New York.